Page 76 of The Lies We Tell

Fierce woman.

Like Briar.

As I wonder why Spark wants us all there, I see the responses start to filter in.

Vex:Will be there

Thirty minutes away, I add.

Niro:Is this legit, @king?

King:Is it @spark? Call me.

Spark:I’ve got good reason. Just trust me and show the fuck up.

When I arrive, I see Spark and Iris, her arm still in the splint from her injuries, waiting outside. They both look tense, but Spark is obviously trying to make Iris feel better.

I grab his shoulder. “‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.’ And if for any reason Isaiah is wrong, and God won’t ... I will. Whatever this is, I’ve got your back, brother.”

I feel like a fraud offering a Bible verse, but it’s what he expects from me.

Everyone is already there. I sit next to Niro. “Fucking cockblockers,” he mutters. “Literally just got naked.”

Bates laughs. “Bet this is going to be more entertaining though.”

“My aching dick doesn’t agree,” Niro complains.

King looks over at Iris and Spark when they enter.

“Irish,” Halo says. “You causing trouble again?” He smiles as he speaks, and I appreciate his efforts to break the tension.

Iris sits in Spark’s chair. He stands behind her. The Irish Mob and the MC. It’s like some fucked-up power couple.

“She shouldn’t be in here,” Niro says.

Spark gives Niro side eye. “Well, she is.”

“What’s going on?” King places his elbows on the table.

Spark squeezes Iris’s shoulder, encouraging her to speak. “Cillian thought what happened the night my dad died was an unplanned raid and pure bad luck. When he found out it wasn’t, he wanted revenge.”

Everyone begins to speak at once, offering their opinion. Bates is pissed. Niro and Rubble mutter something between them. What the pair needs now is time to explain.

“Why do you know this?” I ask.

“Because he threatened me.” Iris raises the brace on her arm. “He caused the accident because he asked me to spy on you all for him, and I refused to help him. He also knew that if I were hurt, Spark would help, forcing us together.”

Vex laughs. “Is that what we’re calling stalking these days?”

Switch joins in the laughter. The speed at which these guys change mood is often entertaining.

“It wasprotection.” Niro puts air quotes around the word.

“This isn’t funny,” Iris says.

Spark leans forward and whispers something into her ear that reassures her.

“What did he ask you to do?” King asks, and the club settles again.